If it is unusual, it should not be. President Carter's prolonged time in hospice care highlights something important I think people should take note of: hospice care isn't about giving up. In my eyes, too many people wait for too long to go into hospice because of that mentality. Hospice is just a way to step back from the stressors of curative methods to instead focus on comfort and pain relief, on being with family, and living one's final days with grace. For our loved ones with terminal conditions, we should aim for this period of care to be as long as possible, and that means going into it as soon as possible.